Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-10-26


whirling and twisting. jumping like u
ballet dancer, while her father. on the
walk near her, was pushing the baby
carriage containing little Harry--walk-
ing slowly-his eyes bent on the pave
ment, evidently unmindful of what
was passing around him. At the
sound of his wife's sharp voice he
lifted his head. and for the first time
saw Mays danger.
Come here, May, this instantr' he
called quickly. But May stopped for a
moment only in her dancing, then
whirling on her foot cast saucy, def
ant glance at her father.
MAY, do you hear mep" he said
sternly. "Come over heren' And, drop
ping the handles of the baby carriage,
he started rapidly toward her. May
stood still for an instant, kicking the
earth with her tiny shoes, then started
to obey.
At that moment there was rattle OF
wheels, the quick tramp of horses
feet. and before the child had passed
half the distance to the walk horse at
tached to an empty. broken carriage
came rapidly around the corner not a
dozen rods from her. The whiffletrce
Of the broken carriage dashed against
the horses heels at every jump, and,
half maddened with fright, he was
tearing down the street at furious
pace. To spring into the road and
catch Nav IL, HE or,,, q mae tba ,.,1,lr ~
an instant; but the horse was close upon
them. and with shout Richard threw
up his arms almost in its face, thinking
1t would naturally turn to the right,
but, on the contrary, the animal in Its
mad terror swerved to the left and
struck Richard with full force. In an
instant the iron hoofs and heavy vehi-
Gle had passed over his PROSTATE body,
and at the next bound the wheels struck
the baby carriage, leaving it wrecked
about the helpless little form. 1t was
all over in a noment-the frightened
horse was dashing madly down the
street, and the three bodies lay appar-
emily lifeless in the road.
So suddenly had it all happened that
Clarice and Eva had stood as if para
lyzed with horror. then with a quick
cry Eva was out of the house and down
the steps. Reaching the wrecked baby
carriage she lifted her child from amid
the debris. There was cruel cash at
the back Of the head, from which the
blood was flowing freely. while the fair
hair. the sweet face and dainty white
garments were stained with the GRIM
son tide.
The beautiful blue eyes met hers in
a dull, CLASSY stare, there was q culver
of the blue-veined lids, quick gasp,
and a little form lay limp and lifeless
in her arms.
A crowd had rapidly collected and
Richard and May were carefully lifted
and borne into the house, while Eva,
like one bereft of her senses, silently
and mechanically followed, holding
the lifeless form of her babe pressed
closely to her breast.
In the middle of the pleasant parlor
she paused and looked with wild,
horror-stricken countenance from the
pallid, blood-stained face upon her
breast TO the unconscious form of her
husband and child upon the sofa.
Clarice came toward her. passed her
arm about her, and tried to lead her to
seat. Slowly Eva turned toward her;
then as she seemed to recognize the
friendly. sympathetic face, she cried
out in tones of heartrending agony
"Oh, Clarice, Clarice! Ihave murdered
them! 1 wished myself free, and God
has taken me at my word''
She staggered, threw out her hand
blindly and sank I'm q dead faint i'm her
friends arms.
Through all that long, sad night she
passed from one fainting fit to another,
tasking all the skill of the medical at
tendants and the kind care of her
friend.
She would revive only long enough
to recall the terrible accident, then
with repetition of her first wild cry
IL have murdered them!'--would re-
lapse into another fainting fit. only to
repeat the same over and over, until ut
last, rs the morning began to dawn,
worn out with the fearful struggle, she
slept the sleep of utter exhaustion.
When she awakened q few hours
later her friend face greeted her open
ing eyes. At first she gazed around in
bewildermcnt. then rs there came back
to her the scene of the previous even
ing she turned her face TO the wall and
the first tears she had been able to shed
fell freely. Claricc pressed her hand
in tender sympathy, making no effort
to check her tears. thinking wisely they
were Natures best relief for the aching
heart and over-charged brain.
After u few moments the tears ceased
and Eva lay motionless with closed
eye, only IN occasional sob shaking
her light frame.
"Oh, Clarice." she said at last, in
broken tones, II am most bitterly pun
ished. / wanted to be free and now
they are all gone! am utterly alone!
Oh, my God, how can bear it7"
But May is not seriously. hurt. "
Clarice fastened to explain, "sho was
only bruised and stunned. Here she
is now" as the mischievous cause of
all the troublc-awed and quieted by
the strange scenes around her-slipped
timidiy into the room.
Eva sprang up with wild cry, and
dropping on her knees caught the child
in her arms: "Oh, thank God!" she
uttered fervently, THAT have even
one left"